It is with great pleasure that we welcome the 12th edition of the Korean Film Festival Canada (KFFC) here at Cinéma du Musée. This year, under the theme Arts & Technologies: Sleep, Dream, Body, the festival invites us to explore the intersections of technological innovation and artistic expression through a rich program of films and performances. The KFFC is a celebration of Korean cinema and the diversity of Asian Canadian voices. As the Director of Programming at Cinéma du Musée, I am honored to see our space become a hub for cultural exchange, where cinephiles, artists, and creators come together. A heartfelt thank you to Arts East-West and the entire festival team for curating such a bold and inspiring lineup, transporting us into captivating stories and fresh perspectives. Enjoy the festival!

축하해요 / Congratulations! Your contribution to enhancing understanding of Korean film and arts culture is undeniable. We applaud your visionary approach. The Korean Film Festival of Canada brings people together in a shared experience and always embraces revelation and insight. We are so pleased to be a part of this year’s festival programming. 감사합니다 / Thank you. 여러분을 응원합니다! / We’re cheering you on!

Hello, this is Jang Man-min, director of Silver Apricot. My heartfelt congratulations on the 12th edition of the Korean Film Festival Canada in 2025! I truly hope that Silver Apricot, along with a wide variety of Korean films, will meet the citizens of Montreal with brilliance and passion. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Executive Director Lee Mi-jeong, the programmers, and all the festival staff for building a meaningful bridge between Korea and Montreal through cinema—and for kindly inviting Silver Apricot to be part of it. Wishing both the audience and the staff a joyful and memorable time!

We are not living in easy times, and it seems there is no clear direction for civilization to advance. But perhaps by sharing our stories, experiences and feelings we can connect better and become closer by learning and exchanging ideas. Arts-East-West and the Korean Film Festival Canada, thanks to the hard work of Mi-Jeong Lee, has created a great space in the Arts for improving this kind of communication.

I would like to extend my sincere congratulations to the 12th Korean Film Festival Canada (KFFC) on this remarkable milestone. It is truly an honor to have my film Hole included in this year’s program. As the screening day approaches, I await it with great anticipation and curiosity, wondering how the audience will engage with the film. I have always believed that regardless of when a film was made, it comes to life anew in the moment it is shared with an audience. I am deeply grateful to the festival for providing Hole—along with many other unforgettable works—a meaningful platform to connect with viewers. Thank you once again for making this opportunity possible, and I sincerely hope the experience will remain a cherished memory for all.

I am truly honored to be part of the 12th Korean Film Festival Canada, a remarkable platform that brings together artists, filmmakers, and audiences to celebrate the power of cinema as a bridge between cultures. KFFC’s commitment to fostering dialogue and artistic exchange resonates deeply with my own exploration of migration, memory, and identity through film and photography. Under this year’s theme, Arts & Technologies: Sleep, Dream, Body, the festival invites us to reflect on the evolving relationship between art, innovation, and human experience. It is a privilege to share space with such diverse voices from the Asian, Asian Canadian, and Korean diasporic communities, all contributing to a dynamic and inclusive cinematic landscape. I look forward to engaging with fellow artists and audiences in this celebration of storytelling across boundaries. My heartfelt gratitude to the KFFC team for creating this inspiring festival.

‍

Hello. I am really thankful for my film You know, there are ghosts under the tree to be screened for this edition of the Korean Film Festival Canada. This film was shot in both Seoul and Jeju over the summer of 2023 and recalls the journey of lost children, their superstitions, and more broadly about caring for oneself and continuing on with life. I hope you enjoy it.

Congratulations on the 12th Korean Film Festival Canada! I am very honored and grateful that my film Sticky Candy is being screened at this edition. I was inspired to keep making films after seeing the audience share stories and emotions beyond the movie, so I am very happy to be able to meet Canadian audience beyond Korea through the 12th Korean Film Festival Canada. I am looking forward to seeing what other stories and the emotions are shared. I hope all of you enjoy the festival and fill your hearts with good films! Have a great time at the festival!

Congratulations on the 12th Korean Film Festival Canada! I am thrilled to have my short animation Hair Universe selected at the festival, which promotes cultural exchange between Korea and Canada. Hair Universe is a story about the pain of loss and the growth, and I am curious and excited to see how it will be received by Canadian audiences. I hope you have a warm and meaningful time watching the various films at the 12th KFFC. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to everyone who has supported this screening and to all those involved in organizing the festival.

Heartfelt congratulations on the opening of the Korean Film Festival Canada!I'm honoured and delighted to have my film Variation screened at this year’s festival. I'm also very curious and excited to see what other films will be featured alongside mine. Variation is a romantic comedy that explores the story of a couple striving to understand one another. I sincerely thank the festival team for recognizing the value of my work and inviting me to participate. I also hope that audiences who come to see the film will connect with it in a meaningful way. I’ll continue creating engaging films and will do my best to return with another work in a future edition of the Korean Film Festival Canada. Thank you

Thank you to the organizers and everyone involved for making this festival possible. I am honoured that my short film I Leave my Little Heart in My Mother’s Chest has been selected for the 12th edition of the Korean Film Festival Canada. It’s a privilege to be part of such a great event and of a vital platform showcasing film, culture, and storytelling of global voices. I hope my film resonates with you as it has with me during its process. I am looking forward to sharing this experience with all of you and to learn more about the world of Korean cinema.

My name is Ashley Mae Johnston, and I am a mixed-race Korean-Scandinavian dancer, choreographer and filmmaker based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. I am interested in the physical body as a source of power, liberation, and authentic connection to the psyche. My work researches the emotional, psychological and physical effects of being observed by others, and its relationship to social context. I am so incredibly honoured to be part of the 12th Korean Film Festival Canada. My ancestry deeply informs my relationship to self, my body, womanhood, and consequently my artistic practice. I am very grateful that a film festival committed to the celebration of Asian Canadian and Korean art exists. As a mixed-race person, I often struggle with my connection to being Korean, and being included in this festival is validating and deeply important. Thank you for witnessing my film Seen.

The McGill Faculty of Arts Internship Office is proud to once again partner with the Montreal Korean Film Festival for its 12th edition. We are thrilled to support our talented Arts students as they contribute behind the scenes to this vibrant celebration of Korean cinema and culture. This partnership offers students a unique opportunity to gain hands-on experience in the cultural sector while engaging with Montreal’s dynamic film community. We look forward to another inspiring summer of storytelling, collaboration, and cultural exchange.